The cyberattack on Calmobil is just the beginning: the real danger is on the road

The cyberattack on Calmobil, the first in the Israeli automotive industry, led to its disconnection from the Ministry of Transportation systems and delays in vehicle deliveries. Experts assess it as a ransomware attack. The article warns of future dangers, including remote takeover of vehicles.

Calcalist reports on the first cyberattack in the history of the Israeli automotive industry, which hit the car importer Calmobil. The company informed its business clients of a data security incident, following which it was disconnected from the Ministry of Transportation's computer systems responsible for registering new cars. Clients reported delays in the delivery of new vehicles and in service. Cybersecurity experts told Calcalist that this is a ransomware attack, and that Calmobil paid the ransom, although the company declined to comment. The article warns that this is a first-of-its-kind event, but likely not the last, as car importers hold vast computer systems and handle billions of shekels annually. The real danger, according to the article, is the possibility that hackers could remotely take over connected cars, disrupt safety systems like cruise control, or disable vehicles of security forces. The Ministry of Transportation has published new cybersecurity guidelines for importers, but the article notes they do not cover issues such as the data centers of Chinese manufacturers. Calmobil stated that it has overcome the incident and all systems will return to full operation.